The multi-purpose playing field at Walter Pierce Park is currently in a state of flux. In 2004, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation made major renovations to the field which included installing an irrigation system, re-grading and re-sodding the field, and installing new "temporary" soccer goal posts at either end of the field. For a few glorious months once the field came back online, the lush green surface was enjoyed by kickball and soccer leagues as well as members of the local community. However, due to a variety of problems including over permitting of the field, no maintenance plan and an irrigation system that was not properly calibrated and ultimately turned off, the field became the giant dustbowl  you see today. At a meeting on February 16, 2006, DPR informed the public that they had two options for the future of the field. The first option, which would again include re-sodding the field, would require the entire field to be fenced in with a 6 ft. high black wrought iron fence. The second option would be to leave the field as is. Believing a shift in thinking about the overall design was needed, on April 17, 2006, the Friends of Walter Pierce Park Board voted to recommend that the Department of Parks and Recreation split the field into two smaller fields. The two smaller fields would still allow for some adult league play and continued community use. Splitting the field in two would prevent some of the adult league play, which in conjunction with the other issues, created the current situation on the field. Friends of Walter Pierce Park will be making its recommendation to the Department of Parks and Rec and will also be calling on other community groups and the Adams Morgan ANC to do the same. If you have any thoughts on the Friends proposal or the field in general, please do not hesitate to send us an email. Community input is always welcome.